Hyderabad: Promotion of commercial activity for properties near metro stations
New guidelines have been prepared by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) on Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Accordingly, property owners having land within 300 metres of the proposed metro rail stations would be able to make use of their property as per these guidelines.
Guidelines prepared by Urban Development department:
As per the new guidelines, such owners can utilize their property for developing office spaces, malls, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, service apartments, retail business outlets, health clubs, hostels or entertainment zones. This is apart from using them for residential purposes. The guidelines for this development were prepared by the urban development authorities in consultation with a major property consultant.
Locations shortlisted for commercial development:
According to HMDA officials, 19 locations have been identified for undertaking such development. They include Kukatpally, Miyapur, Moosapet, Balanagar, Punjagutta, Ameerpet, Bharatnagar, Khairatabad, Erramanzil, Nagole/Uppal, Nampally, Mettuguda, Tarnaka, Rasoolpura, Parade Grounds, Moosarambagh, LB Nagar, Hitech City and Raidurg.
Parameters for finalizing locations:
The finalization of these different locations were done based on various parameters like scope for redevelopment, densification, parking space, pedestrian facility, multi-modal transportation and the access to transit stations. Incidentally, there would be limited parking space, and there would be a parking fee for personal vehicles.
Specifics of guidelines:
The prime motive behind this move of TOD is to encourage the use of public transportation. Moreover, these areas would also have much wider and uniform footpaths, with buildings required to have a minimum of six metres frontage. Besides, these areas are also well connected to various modes of transport like the metro rail, MMTS stations as well as bus services.
MA&UD department allows metro developer to commercially use govt land:
The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department of Hyderabad on its part is striving to boost commercial activity in the vicinity of metro stations. In this regard, it has allowed Larsen & Toubro, the developer of the Hyderabad metro rail project, to commercially exploit government land of about 18.5 million sq.ft, in the vicinity of metro rail stations. This includes about 12.5 million sq.ft at metro terminal locations like Miyapur, Nagole and Falaknuma. Besides, around six million sq.ft was permitted to be utilized in the vicinity of 66 metro rail stations.
Land transferred by HMR to metro developer:
Incidentally, the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) had initially agreed to transfer 269 acres of land to the metro rail developer for the project development. Out of this, 57 acres, which included both government as well as private land, was handed over to the developer for the construction of 66 metro stations. The remaining land would be deployed for the construction of metro rail depots, other metro stations, for passenger facilities as well as for commercial purposes.
Guidelines send for Govt approval:
As soon as the guidelines prepared by the HMDA are approved, development control regulations would be formulated. They would specify the permissible height as well as the minimum Floor Space Index (FSI) that would be made applicable in the 300 metre area around the metro stations. The guidelines have been send to the Andhra Pradesh state government for clearance, following which a Government Order (GO) would be issued by the government in this regard.
